Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 28
CHAPTER 9
Relative to Earth Hour.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
April 04, 2011.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 28, Chesbro.
Earth Hour.
This measure would endorse efforts to raise awareness of global climate change and energy efficiency and would declare the hour of 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March to be “Earth Hour” throughout the state. The measure would encourage city, county, and state employees, and businesses to turn off nonessential lights in government buildings, public schools, public landmarks, and other buildings for that hour on March 26, 2011.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Communities throughout California are affected by the impacts of global warming and are gravely concerned about the future health of our planet; and
WHEREAS, There is growing public support for action to stop global warming, and communicating a desire for change regarding matters that impact our lives, such as global warming, is an important part of democracy; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour is both an international and local symbolic event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change issues, and to encourage businesses, individuals, and governments to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on the environment in their daily lives and operations; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, governmental agencies, and commercial and noncommercial establishments to voluntarily turn off all nonessential lighting for one hour beginning at 8:30 p.m. on March 26, 2011, and encourages citizens and businesses to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy; and
WHEREAS, This state has long been a national and international leader on energy conservation and environmental stewardship efforts, including the areas of air quality protection, energy efficiency requirements, renewable energy standards, natural resource conservation, and greenhouse gas emission standards; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour is an opportunity for state agencies and community energy awareness programs to promote information and tools available to residents and businesses to increase energy efficiency and decrease emissions and use of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, Extinguishing nonessential lights in all state buildings and public landmarks for one hour and urging all businesses and citizens to do the same demonstrates that the state is concerned about climate change, that it stands with the rest of the world in seeking solutions, and that it demands all elected leaders to act immediately to take measures that will help fight global climate change, including enacting environmentally important legislation; and
WHEREAS, Turning off all nonessential lights in government buildings and public landmarks will serve as an important rallying point for the worldwide energy conservation event, Earth Hour; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature endorses the efforts by the World Wildlife Fund, through Earth Hour, to raise awareness of global climate change and energy efficiency; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all city, county, and state employees, as well as businesses in the state to turn off all nonessential lighting in government buildings, public schools, public landmarks, and business establishments for the hour between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 26, 2011, to conserve energy and raise awareness about global climate change as part of the international event, Earth Hour; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature declares the last Saturday in March, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. to be “Earth Hour” throughout the state; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the office of the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate, and the author for appropriate distribution.